Behavior modification and the brat syndrome.

Abstract

A program of behavior modification was formulated for the purpose of training a mother to control her 84 yr.-old emotionally disturbed boy who was a severe disciplinary problem. Training was based upon learning principles, and behavioral feedback to the mother was provided via closed circuit television. Mother-son interactions were videotaped as the mother practiced stepby-step instructions, and the interaction tapes were viewed by the mother for appraisal of her success in carrying out the instructions. Within a few weeks, the boy's abusive behavior was reduced, and treatment effects were still evident 23 wk. after initiation of the program. The roles of various factors as they contributed to the treatment of the brat syndrome are discussed.

Modeling: Research with Implications for Special Education

“…Therefore, planned use of models offers an especially efficient method for training educational, counseling, or other child-handling skills to naive clients, such as institutional attendants (Gardner, 1972), teacher trainees (Haring & Fargo, 1969), parents (Bernal, Duryee, Pruett, & Burns, 1968;Seitz & Terdal, 1972), and counselor trainees (Frankel, 1971 ). When the teaching objective is for students to learn to perform rather than to verbalize principles, there is evidence (Gardner, 1972) for the superiority of modeling plus guided practice over lectures plus class participation and discussion.…”

Behavioral parenting interventions for child disruptive behaviors and anxiety: What's different and what's the same

“…Subsequently, in the mid to late 1960s, a group of clinical psychologists began programs of clinical research utilizing parents as the focus of intervention for the disruptive behaviors of their young children (Bernal, Durgee, Pruett, & Burns, 1968; Hanf, 1969; Patterson & Brodsky, 1966; Wahler, Winkel, Peterson, & Morrison, 1965). Although the exact interventions utilized across these programs of research varied to some extent, the common factor was a focus on behavior, specifically changing parent behavior in order to change child behavior.…”

Resistance to Direction in Behavior Therapy: Some Comments

“…For example, Hawkins, Peterson, Schweid, and Bij au (8) have emphasized the importance of obtaining the parent's full cooperation when he is used as a behavioral engineer (therapist) in the amelioration of parent-child interactions. Likewise, Bernal, Duryee, Pruett, and Burns (2) intimate that the avoidance of resistance to direction in parent retraining programs is largely the result of the positive manner in which the parent is approached. "Training the parent to respond in new ways to her child emphasizes the parent's successes and minimizes dwelling upon previous mistakes or the parent's psychodynamic structure as explanations for problem behaviors" (2,454-455).…”